EFFECTS OF MERCURIC CHLORIDE ON MALE REPRODUCTION

该子项目是利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是 中心，不一定是研究者的机构。 本研究的目的是研究有机甲基汞（MeHg）摄入对雌性大鼠生育率的影响，包括（1）活胎数，（2）流产数和黄体数。 雌性大鼠，30日龄，处理2.5 ppm（低治疗组）或5.0 ppm（高治疗组）或0.0 ppm的甲基汞（对照组），饮用水，60天。然后将其与70至80日龄未给药雄性（2只雌性对1只雄性）交配17天。通过体重增加证实妊娠。在妊娠12-15天，对所有雌性动物实施安乐死，并检查活胎数和死亡数。 与对照组相比，甲基汞处理的结果是，活胎数、流产数和黄体数均未改变。 相反，如2006- 2007年进展报告中所报告的，无机汞的摄入导致平均胎儿数（6.9 vs 12.4对照组）以及流产率（10.5 vs 12.8对照组）降低。 总之，甲基汞不会对女性生殖系统产生不利影响，但无机汞会。 两者之间的差异可能在于它们穿过血脑屏障的能力不同，甲基汞可以穿过血脑屏障，而无机汞则不能。这些结果意义重大，因为它们直接影响到年轻和成年妇女，特别是育龄妇女，她们居住在沿海地区附近，以鱼为主要饮食来源。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of organic methyl mercury (MeHg) ingestion on the fertility rate of female rats, including (1) the number of viable fetuses, (2) the number of implantations, and the number of corpora lutea. Female rats, 30 days of age, were treated with 2.5 ppm (low treatment group) or 5.0 ppm (high treatment group) or 0.0 ppm MeHg (control group), in drinking water, for 60 days. They were then mated with 70 to 80-day-old untreated males (2 females to 1 male) for 17 days. Pregnancy was confirmed by weight increase. At 12-15 days of gestation, all females were euthanized and examined for the number of viable fetuses and implantations. Compared to controls, neither the number of viable fetuses, nor the number of implantations, and nor the number of corpora lutea was altered, as a result of MeHg treatment. Conversely, as reported previously in 2006-07 progress report, the ingestion of inorganic mercury resulted in lowering the mean number of fetuses (6.9 vs 12.4 in controls) as well as implantations (10.5 vs 12.8 in controls). In conclusion, while MeHg does not adversely affect the female reproductive system, inorganic mercury does. The difference between the two may lie in differences in their ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier, which is crossed by the MeHg but not by the inorganic mercury. These results are significant because they have a direct impact on young and adult women, especially child-bearing women, who live near coastal areas and depend upon fish as their main source of diet.